After seven weeks of condescending hand-holding, Starfleet has finally given the Enterprise a mission worthy of the fleet's flagship. The mission that follows changes more than anyone could have imagined.

(AU) On a dystopian Earth, a young loner and his grieving mother take in a strange social outcast and her son, bringing about an unlikely relationship between the two men. When an unexpected tragedy prompts a shocking revelation, the two must rely on each other to survive, discovering a connection neither knew was possible amidst a terrifying threat that spans worlds.

A young Kirk and Spock vacation during Christmas break from the Academy at Kirk's childhood home. They haven't shared their new relationship with anyone just yet, but a mother always knows when her son's in love.

This story originally appeared in Legends #7.

Thank you to my two marvelous beta readers, Amy and Jean, for their dedicated hard work in helping me to turn out a readible stories time after time.

Being young has its advantages, being away from your line of work for decades not so much. The training programme at the Cristóbal de Morales space station includes science as well as many visiting ships because of its central position in relation to many other planets. There is nothing that could go wrong in a peaceful, simple place like this. Is there now?

Sequel to Air, in case there was doubt about that. This get's a first time mark, which will not be anything more than a hint (see the rating) in the text. I'll post that bit as a stand alone (and entirely optional) chapter.

Takes place during Enemy Within. Spock is disturbed by Kirk's strange behavior, and goes to his quarters to confront him. This is either a mistake, or a very good decision, depending upon one's perspective.

I always laughed at the part where Scotty explains why he started the fight and Kirk looked so offended. So I wrote what I think should have happened to make Jim feel better. Of course, the tribbles will ruin all that.

Spock Prime's thoughts during the movie on the similarities and differences between the Jim he knew, and the one he has stumbled upon in the XI universe that is so strange and yet familiar to his Jim, and wonders what changes will result in the relationship between his young counterpart and this Jim.